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Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment

The physician's practice of UT Health San Antonio's Neurosurgery maintains the most comprehensive Traumatic Brain Injury Team in Central and South Texas. Our neurosurgeons operate on critically injured patients at the Level I Trauma Center at University Health System.

Related to:TBI treatment, concussion treatment, neurosurgery

The physician's practice of UT Health San Antonio's neurosurgeons create the most comprehensive Traumatic Brain Injury Team in Central and South Texas. We are the expert's patients and their families rely on when quick, excellent neurosurgical care is most imperative.

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Diagnosis

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases can range from mild to severe. During mild traumatic brain injuries (also called ‘concussions’) patients show no evidence of brain injury based on imaging results (CAT scan), but they may have headaches, memory problems, dizziness, nausea, confusion, difficulty sleeping, or a brief loss of consciousness.

Patients with moderate to severe brain injuries might have the same symptoms mentioned above as well as seizures, convulsions, repeated vomiting, dilated pupils, weakness or numbness, or a loss of coordination. Severe brain injury can cause patients to enter into a coma in which they are not responsive to stimulation.

The effects of TBI can vary depending on the force that impacts the head and what parts of the brain are affected. Blunt trauma will likely cause a different type of injury than a car accident or a fall. Patients can have contusions (bruises on the brain) or hematomas (collections of blood above or below the brain’s lining). There are also injuries in which nerves get stretched or torn, which can lead to bleeding.

Treatment

Patients with mild injuries might be sent home and asked to follow up with their primary care doctor. Patients with severe injuries might need to be admitted into a hospital for close monitoring and neurological examinations. These patients sometimes require surgery to help manage the swelling of the brain. If there is a significant degree of swelling based on imaging results (a CAT scan, for example), patients may have a monitor placed to help track the brain’s pressure. Just like high blood pressure, high brain pressure can also be dangerous.

Functional recovery, in which a patient is responsive and managing self-care, can take months or even years depending on the severity of the injury. Time is often required for rehabilitation and skilled care. For example, TBI patients might need long term assistance with breathing or feeding themselves. When important parts of the brain are injured, patients are not always able to achieve a functional recovery.

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